Rail



Patented Mar. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM Gr. COUGHLIN, 02E

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL.

Application filed November This invention relates to railroad rails and particularly to a compound rail madev up of a base, and a head section which may be del tachably secured to the base.

One object of this invention is to provide a rail having a base which may be permanently secured te the ties and upon which the head section of the rail which receives wear' may be readily secured or removed. Another' object is to provide such a rail in which the area or size of the head is small compared to the base or support so that only a relatively small amount of metal -need be scrapped when the 'head wears out and has to vbe replaced or re-surfaced.

Another .object is to provide base and head sections of such shapes that in their manufacture they ymay be rolled upon their bear.- ing or wearing surfaces in ord-er to give such surfaces a compact and homogeneous texture.

Another object is to provide such a rail base which is adapted to carry different forms lof head sections including heads cut from old railV and a base which has a relatively wide supporting `surface upon which the head vfirmly rests so that any shearing stresses on the metal of the base or 'head' are avoided.

A further object is to provide a compound rail in which the vbase is relatively wide compared Ato the height, thus providing `great strength and rigidity in the -rail to oppose lateral forces tending to overturn ythe rail.

Also .it is an object to provide novel means for attachino' the head section to the base which will'eectively resist horizontal thrust against the 'head section ltending to` force the saine from lthe base. f

Other objects and various features of `novelty will be apparent to those ,skilled in the art from the following description read in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Figure l is a transverse section showing an embodiment of this invention with one form of rail head section; f

Figure .2 is a similar section with guard rail omitted showing a `head section formed of old rail;

Figure 3 isa section similar to F 2 showing a modified form of fastening device; p

Figure 4 is a side elevation ofthe construction as shown in Fig. l or `Fig. 2; and

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the Fig. l

to, and most frequently does,

2, 1926. semi No. 145,883.;

construction but showing the lbase in discontinuous sections. l

Referring to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1y and 4, there is a basel() and a wearing head section 1l detachably connectf so ed thereto. The base l0 is formed inthe shape of an :inverted 'U and may be of any desiredsize. This particular shape permits a wide base as Ythe legs of the 1U may lbe spaced apart to anyV extent desired, thus forming a stable support for the rail. It lis to be noted that the base 10 'has a top sur'- face Aor seat 10a which is of considerable width thus providing a substantial seat-.for the rail head 4carried thereon. The base is 70 preferably a roll-ed section and .has no reentrant projections on its sides and so may be produced .by upper and lower .rolls in the position in `whih it is adapted to be used, that is, the lower roll will `be beneath the base liianges of the two legs and have .a flange ypressing out the interior of the 1U while' the mating upper roll will form :the upper contours of the base Aincluding the top surface 10a. In this way the lgreatest 'pres- 80 sure is brought to bear upon the top surface where the greatest homogeneityor compactnessofinetalis desirable. The usual method of rolling rail sections on the sides is liable leave flawson the itcp surface where the metal .is rwedged in sidewise rather than rolled down frorn above. The top surface l()a has faces having aslight inclination from each side toward the center of the base and there is a central longitudinal groove l()b disposed along the Acenter between-the sloping vportionslof the top surface. This groove preferably lhas substantially Iparallel and vertical sides, the purpose o f Awhich will be apparent as the description proceeds.

The top surface of the head section l1 is that portion of the rail which receives the wear ofthe wheels, and for this reason .the head section is preferably made of harder metal-than the supporting base 10. Preferably also the area or size of the wearingfhead section is comparatively small so that .when this portion ofthe rail wears out or needs re-surfacing only a small amount of metal has to be scrapped or re-rolled as the case may be. The'` rail head section l1 shownl in Fig. 1 has a pair of heads 12 connected by alweb 13. Each Ahead l2 has a wheel -wearing surface 11,0

. groove construction would 12, Wheel flange Wearing surfaces 12; and

. a supporting surface 12*l adapted to rest on the base surface or seat 10u. A central longitudinal rib 12b is provided on the head adapted to lie Within groove 10" of the base. A soft meta-l liner 14 may be used between the supporting surface 12d of the head and top surfacelOht of the base if deslred. lVhen the liner is used the rib 12b portionately but, ofcourse, the liner may be omitted and in that case g ribwill be parallel and substantially vertical so `as to closely fit. the sides of the groove. l y

a The shape of this head section is such that it has no laterally re-entrant projections and may be rolled in the position in which it is usedion the rail so thatfthe wheel wearing surfaces may receive the greatest pressure of the rolls. In this: connection, itis to be noted that theweb 13 is inclined from the vertical thereby providing for eiiicient rolling of the same.

`Thehead section has been designed to ob tain the longest possible service before vthe same is replaced. -Either head-12 may be seated upon the top surface of the base and the section may be used either on the inside or outside of the track. This provides four interchangeable wheel wearing surfaces as will be apparent. rl"his head section has also been designed to obtain additional strength inthe rail. By having the heavy heads 12 connected by the web 13 the section is made stiff when considered as a beam.

' The flange wearing surfaces 12c mayhave an outward slope as shown and a clipv 15 having ridges 15, 15b is adapted to bear at one end upon the outer surface 12C and at the other upon the outer leg of the U-shaped base 10. A bolt 16 having a nut 16a thereon is provided to hold the clip in position. One of the ridges binay be made larger than the other. When a head is changed in position so that a worn surface 12c is presented beneath the clip, the same may be reversed to place the large ridge 15b at the top to se curely hold the rail in position.

lVhen desired a guard rail 17 may be secured to the rail by the same bolts 16 which serve to fasten the head sectionto the rail base. y v

Considering the foregoing construction, it will be seen that the head 12 rests upon the upper surface of the base 10 and consequently there is no tendency for the metal of the base to be shcared by the weight or downward force upon the head 12. Likewise the rectangular rib and groove construction between the head 12 and the base V1() together with the clips l5 forms a construction which very effectively secures the head to the base. It is evident that the clip l5 and rib `and resist lateral thrust against the rail head which is the firmly held in. position by is narrowed prothe sides of the i principal force present tendingy to separate the head and base when a load passes. Vhile the weight of the load serves to hold the head section down upon the base it is theclip 15 and the wheel flanges prevent the head moving inward.

'In Fig. 2 the base 20 shown is the same as that described in connection with Fig. l and consists of a U-shaped section having a top surface 2Oa and groove 20". The clip 25 having ridges25a and 25b ing bolt 26 are also the same. The head section 21, however, is in this casemade from old rail. The head 22 with rib 22b is cut from old rail and re-rolled to the desired shape. The rib 22b which was cut from the web of the old rail is of the proper size to fit within the groove 20b of thebaseand the supporting surface 22L is adapted to fit the top surface 2()n of the base. The clip 25, as

before,\serves to hold the head to the base and to take outward lateral thrust tending to cause the head toyoverturn. The head section has two wearing surfaces as will be evidentwhenit is stated that it maybe turned around to expose the otheredge of the top surface 22d and other sideface 22 to the action of the wheels. In this figure the guard .rail and soft metal liner haveV been omitted though their employment isoptional.

In Fig. 3 it is seen that the base 40 having top surface 40a and groove 4Gb is the same as before. The head section 41, however, isn somewhat different in sectional contour to provide for `a modified fastening arrai'igement. The head section has a head 42 with wearing surface 42d, support surface 42a and rib 42h as usual, but the side surfaces 42 have ianges42e with inclined upper surfaces l2z upon which clips 45 having inclined lips 45 are secured by bolts 46 passing through the clips'and base. Y

Fig. 5 shows a modification in which the base 30is discontinuous and the sections of the same carried on each cross ti e. Here-the head section 31 with head 32 and web 33 provides sufficient stiffness for, the traffic and continuous lengths of base are not necessary. Here also-,the clips 35 are made in much shorter lengths than where the base is continuous." For very light traffic a head section such as illustrated in Fig. 2 may be utilized with discontinuous sections of base. Various modifications other than those illustrated and described are contemplated to be within the scope of 'the appended claims. g f Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: In a compound rail, in combination, an inverted U-shaped hase having a top surface comprising two inclined faces sloping toward the center and a rectangular groove along the center, a detachable head section having a support surface comprising two inclined faces sloping toward the center and a rectangular rib along the center, said support surface of the head section being adapted to be seated on the top surface of the base, bolts extending through the legs of said base, and means engaged by said bolts for detachably securing said head section to said base.

2. In a compound rail, in combination, an inverted U-shaped base having a top surface comprising two inclined faces sloping toward the center and a rectangular groove along the center, a detachable head section having a support surface comprising two inclined faces sloping toward the center, said support surface of the head section being adapted to be seated on the top surface of the base, bolts extend/ing through the legs of the base, and a clip positioned along one of the legs of said base and engaged by said bolts for detachably securing said head section to said base. Y

3. In a compound rail, in combination, an inverted U-shaped base having a top surface comprising two inclined faces sloping toward the center and a rectangular groove along the center', a detachable head section having a support surface comprising two inclined faces sloping toward the center, said support surface of the head section being adapted to be seated on the top surface of the base, bolts extending through the legs of the base, and a clip positioned along one of the legs of said base and engaged by said bolts for detachably securing said head section to said base, said clip being formed with inner ridges of different sizes at its upper and lower ends.

4. In a compound rail, in combination,v an inverted U-shaped base having a top surface comprising two flat side faces joined by a rectangular groove in the center, a detachable head section having a support surface comprising two flat faces joined by a rectangular rib at the center, the supporting surface of said head section being adapted to rest on the top surface of the base portion, a clip arranged on one side of the rail and engaging the sides of the base and top section, a guard rail having a flange arranged against the other side of the base section, and bolts passing through said clip and flange and the legs of said base.

5. In a compound rail, in combination, an inverted U-shaped base having a top surface comprising two flat side faces joined by a rectangular groove along the center, a detachable head section consisting of two heads and a web connecting the heads on opposite sides, said web having an inclination from the vertical and lying along the side of one of the legs of the base, each of said heads having its under surface shaped to fit the topsurface of the base, and means to secure the head section to the base.

6. In a compound rail, in combination, an inverted U-shaped base having a top surface comprising two fiat side faces joined by a rectangular groove along the center, a detachable head section consisting of two heads and a web connecting the heads on opposite sides, said web having an inclination from the vertical and lying along one of the legs of the base, each of said heads having a support surface comprising two flat side faces joined by a rectangular rib along the center, and a soft metal liner interposed between the support surface of one of the heads and the top surface of the base section.

7. In a compound rail, in combination an inverted U-shaped base having a top surface including two fiat inclined faces intersecting the side surfaces and sloping toward the center, a detachable head section having a support surface comprising two flat inclined faces sloping toward the center, said support surface of the head section being adapted to be seated on and substantially fit the top surface of said base, and means for ldetachably securing said head section to said base.

8. In a compound rail, in combination, an inverted U-shaped base having a top surface comprising two flat inclined faces sloping toward the center' and a rectangular groove along the center, a detachable head section having a support surface comprising two inclined faces sloping toward the center and a rectangular rib along the center, said support surface of the head section being adapted to be seated on the top surface of the base, a. clip extending along one side of said base and head section, and means for detachably securing said clip to said base.

9. In a compound rail, in combination, a base having a bottom support surface and a top head supporting surface, a detachable head section consisting of two heads and a web connecting the heads on opposite sides, said web having an inclination from the vertical, each of said heads having its under surface shaped to t and adapted to rest upon the top surface of the base, and means to secure the head section to the base.

10. In a compound rail, in combination, an inverted U-shaped base having a top surface including two flat inclined faces sloping toward the center, a detachable head section consist-ing of two heads and a web connecting the heads on opposite sides, said web having an inclination from the vertical and lying along the side on one of the legs of the base, each of said heads having its under surface shaped to fit the top surface of the base and means to secure the head sect-ion to the base.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

WILLIAM G. COUGHLIN. 

